Teresa L. Chapman

Obituary

Born on October 23, 1960, was a girl with destinies and goals. Teresa was born to the proud parents of Curtis L. and Sherley M. Chapman. She made her appearance to face this world. Even as a young girl, she knew the roads ahead would get rough but learned to smile at every obstacle.

Educated by life’s teachers, success and failure, she started her hunger to learn in the Baltimore City Public Schools. After graduating from Lake Clifton Senior High School in June 1978, her quest needed to be continued at Catonsville Community College where she pursued and received her Associates of Arts degree in Mortuary Science in June 1980. In September 2000 she made up her mind to serve and learn more about the Lord at the United Baptist Bible College and Seminary, earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Ministry in May 2005.

TC, as she was affectionately known, realized there must be labor for reward. Immediately upon graduation from Catonsville, she went to work under the supervision of Vernon R. Bailey and began her journey towards the career she had chosen. In April 1982 she received her license as a Funeral Director and Embalmer. She worked at March Funeral Home, Chatman-Harris Funeral Home, and Derrick C. Jones Funeral Home. She also worked at the Post Office, as a security guard, delivering newspapers, and doing janitorial services. She finally returned to the Post Office full time, where she was very active in her union, and retired fully in 2023.

At an early age TC was anointed at the New St. Paul Holiness Church under the leadership of her uncle, the late Rev. Albert McKinney. She joined Greater Faith Tabernacle under the leadership of Bishop Millard Cox. In October 1993 she joined the Garden of Prayer Baptist Church under the pasturage of Rev. Melvin B. Tuggle II. It was there she realized God’s plan for her. So, in July 1994 she was baptized. Being obedient to God’s word she did the work of a teacher and evangelist and in September 1995 she preached her initial sermon, refusing from that point on to be quiet about God’s word. No matter what in life she undertook, she allowed God to oversee it knowing He saw from a better perspective. In June 2000, she was ordained and asked to be the assistant pastor of Solomon Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Sledge where she stayed for three years. With a few more stops along the way, she became an associate minister at Mt. Oliver Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Dwight Dodd. She took great pride in being a part of the weekly prayer meeting ministry.

The Lord blessed her to become a foster parent to Amaya in August 2004, then later in May 2005 to Isaiah. She loved her kids more than anything in the world and would do anything for them. In May 2009, she legally adopted them. They were her greatest joy and she taught them to love music like she did.

TC loved to crochet and could whip up a blanket on a cold winter night in a heartbeat. She enjoyed doing several other types of crafts. She had a passion for gardening and could not wait for spring to plant her seeds. She called herself a seed collector because she would collect even the tiniest of seeds to plant. TC also had talents in literature, writing poetry especially. She published her first book, The Gift of God Is, in August 1995. Her second book, As I Walk This Journey, was published for her 50th birthday. Her third book, The Gift of Grace, was published for her 60th birthday in October 2020. She also loved music and was happiest playing the songs she wrote. She had an ability to touch people with words. Her favorite saying was “I seek to touch one heart, even if it’s mine, it feels good.” She loved to play the piano, drums, and especially the harmonica. She loved to laugh and make others laugh. She could also be the most contrary person in the world. If you say go right, she would purposely go left. Friends would sometimes call her Reverend Trouble.

TC knew what dreams were made of and she was not afraid to buy the material with tears of joy and pain. Death will always be a dream to those without a vision. She will be missed by those who survive her.

TC is survived by her son, Isaiah, and her daughter, Amaya. Her parents, Curtis and Sherley, preceded her in death. She has two brothers, Curtis Jr. and Kevin. She has three sisters: Jeavonna, Karen, and Tracey. She has one sister-in-law, Sara, and one brother-in-law, David. She also has four nieces and two nephews. TC also leaves behind a host of other family and friends.